# LINKcat Mobile

> Mobile library catalog access for searching, holds, renewals, and account management. (iPhone/iPad app by South Central Library System.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/linkcat-mobile/id496788016 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [South Central Library System](https://appshunter.io/developer/1568735212)
- Category: Lifestyle
- Price: Free
- Rating: 2.80/5 from 40 App Store ratings · 70 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 17+
- Requires: iOS 15.6 · 50 MB
- Languages: American English, German (Germany)
- Released: 2012-05-10
- Data updated: 2026-08-23
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/linkcat-mobile/id496788016/reviews.md

## What is LINKcat Mobile?

Access LINKcat from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch. Search LINKcat, place holds, access your library account, renew items, and more.

## Key features

- Search library catalog
- Place holds on items
- Access library account
- Renew borrowed items
- Manage account status

## What do users think of LINKcat Mobile?

Overall sentiment: negative

**Pros**

- 👍 Easy to place books on hold
- 👍 Linked accounts for family
- 👍 App is handy for mobile access
- 👍 Can renew books
- 👍 App works for requesting books

**Cons**

- 🐛 Constantly logs out
- 🐛 Freezes and crashes
- 🐛 Unable to load data
- 🐛 Login issues
- 🐛 Slow loading times
- 🐛 Unintuitive wishlist adding
- 🐛 Limited search options
- 🐛 No way to contact developer
- 🐛 App is glitchy
- 🐛 Useless when not working
- 🐛 Clunky interface
- 🐛 Outdated UI
- 🐛 Randomly boots users off
- 🐛 Requires multiple logins
- 🐛 Search function glitches
- 🐛 Cannot renew items
- 🐛 Terrible search feature
- 🐛 App is non-functional
- 🐛 Barely works
- 🐛 Cumbersome to use
- 🐛 Poorly designed

**Commonly reported bugs**

- Won't stay logged in
- Randomly boots out
- Freezes
- Unable to load data
- Cannot automatically pull up saved passwords
- Adding books to wishlist freezes the app
- Search options are shaved down
- No way to contact developer
- Keeps you logged in sometimes, or randomly boots you off
- Constant log in issues
- Super glitchy
- App keeps you logged in sometimes, or randomly boots you off
- Works sometimes, but not always
- Update has some improvements, but still doesn't stay logged in
- Logging in requires more steps
- Unusable
- Error message or nothing happens
- Doesn't work 99% of the time
- Can't place items on hold
- Update does not work
- Cannot use Place Hold button
- Recent update breaks it for iPhone 14
- Rarely shows checkouts
- Actions like renewals result in glitches and crashes
- Constantly log in & out to be able to search
- Not recognizing login at all
- Always full of bugs
- More of a pain to use than anything
- Slowest app ever used
- Takes forever to load
- Makes you resign in almost every time
- Claims username or password are incorrect every other time
- User lists missing
- UI feels like it was developed a decade ago
- Weird and unintuitive transition when opening activity
- Takes too many taps to see holds
- Renew button visible but item cannot be renewed
- Keep signed in checkbox only intermittently effective
- Linked accounts make life easier
- App is still a little on the slow side
- Lots of issues logging in
- Keeps kicking me out
- Unsaved all my saved books
- Login broken after update
- Useless after update
- Can't login since latest update
- Uncertainty is not a good feature
- Unable to show checkouts or holds
- Timeout error message
- Same issue with search function
- Horrible
- Can't renew
- Trouble logging in or won't stay logged in
- Terrible search feature
- Stopped working
- Puts you into a log into my account loop
- Still unreliable
- Never works
- Worthless
- Truly terrible
- Never seems to work
- Frustrating
- Libraries not open, need app for curbside pickup
- Reserving books online is the only option
- Please update!
- Many deficiencies
- SO slow
- Keep getting notified it won't work after iOS update
- A nightmare
- Slow, terrible, barely functioning
- Doesn't work anymore
- Non functional
- Terrible app
- Basically nonfunctional
- An all around terrible app
- Does almost nothing you want it to do
- Slower than a turtle with a hangover
- It works, sort of
- Clunky and very slow
- Doesn't maintain login
- Searching is painful
- Unusable
- Stuck with last search results
- Can't get to checked out items to renew
- Please fix
- Terrible after update
- Can't search or place holds
- Terrible App
- Useless
- Doesn't load
- Search function glitches
- Can't easily renew books
- Fix it please
- Upgraded only to ruin it
- Frustratingly glitch-prone
- Search results not accurate
- Keyboard commands return incorrect characters
- Forced re-authentication
- A real mess
- Holds aren’t working anymore
- Placing a hold via the app doesn't work
- Worst app I have
- Useful concept but barely works
- Shocking that this is the best the library can come up with
- Clumsy, awkward, unreliable
- Half the time it won't load search page
- Fails to bring up item
- Keyboard doesn't have a space bar
- Delete button added random letters
- Recent update made it unusable
- Almost impossible to see checked out items
- Have to log out and try to log back in
- Logging back in takes several tries
- Constantly redirects back to home page
- Won't work
- Need an updated version
- Miss being able to manage library account from phone
- Unusable
- Made an update in Dec 2019 and now it doesn't work
- Wish this app worked
- Some days it does, most of the time it doesn't
- Won't log in
- Errors most of the time
- It had issues, now it is unusable
- Can't even get into account
- Holds don't show up on account
- Horrible
- Super super slow
- Won't load checked out/hold items
- Searches come up blank since update
- Time to Update
- 5 years since last update
- Many improvements necessary
- Really needs updating
- Desperately needs to be updated
- What WHY HOW
- Can't perform basic functions
- Awful
- Slow
- Need to keep logging back on
- Can't find what you need
- Hard to figure out how to renew
- Outdated and poorly constructed
- Polarized
- Does not work right even after reinstall
- Used to work okay, now broken
- App won't load checkout/hold lists
- Half the time page won't load
- Error pops up
- Have to scroll all the way down to local library
- Come on.
- Incredibly slow
- Functionality not quicker
- Every function takes about 30 seconds
- Log in - 30 seconds
- Type search - wait 30 seconds
- Hit hold button - wait 30 seconds
- Finalize hold - 30 more seconds
- Incredibly unreliable
- HATE it
- Slow as dial-up
- Runs as slowly as dial-up
- Terrible
- Constantly freezing up
- Extremely slow
- Doesn't work. Please fix!
- Works less than half the time
- Shows old cached list
- Throws an error
- Unreliable
- Okay when it works, but no telling when
- Very slow and glitchy
- Different types of errors
- Loads but only loads back to home screen
- Rarely updates checked out/on hold
- Broken
- App worked great until past week
- All I get is an error message
- Tried deleting and re-downloading, didn't help
- Need to go through web browser
- Very frustrating
- Broken!
- App has been broken for about a month
- All I can get are error messages
- Try refresh page messages
- Really poor
- As bad of an app as I have seen
- Terrible interface
- Search is all but useless
- Worked great for about 2 weeks, then stopped working completely
- Unknown error
- Tried re-downloading with no success
- Running terrible
- Times out constantly
- Need a Passbook interface
- Technology doesn't always win
- Difficult to navigate
- Hard to find results
- Uninspiring, poor UI/UX
- Simple wrapper app around mobile website
- Mobile website is poorly designed
- Not pretty, but it works.
- Works fine on iPad 3 iOS 6.01
- Not a "beautiful" app
- Ok folks, who can do better?!
- Wish this app worked reliably
- Rarely works
- Fails to come up with response to search
- Says to try again later
- Finding results unrelated to search terms
- Missing an important feature
- Prioritizing a sort for checked out items
- Show up in random order
- Good start I suppose
- Nice to have
- Convenient to have mobile access
- Navigation isn't the best
- Takes more tapping around than it should
- Downloads from Overdrive don't seem to be working
- Couldn't get barcode scan to work
- Disappointing Functionality!
- Renewing items requires lots of scrolling
- Much easier to use full LinkCat site on iPhone
- Need same functionality of full site in mobile app

**Most requested features**

- Add user lists
- Improve UI/UX
- Implement tab bar navigation
- Add dark mode
- Allow searching by language
- Provide a way to contact developers
- Improve search filters
- Add Passbook interface for membership card
- Sort checked out list by due date
- Make search results more accurate
- Improve keyboard for searches with spaces

## Recent user reviews (10 of 70)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/linkcat-mobile/id496788016/reviews.md

### 1/5 — Won’t stay logged in

*2026-01-29*

There’s no point in using this app if I have to log in every single time I open it. At least my browser will autofill my card number and PIN

### 3/5 — Good …. when it works

*2025-09-06*

When it’s not randomly booting me out, freezing, or unable to load data, it’s not bad. Unlike other apps, when you need to log back in, you can’t automatically pull up your saved passwords, so I’m cursing the app at least monthly for that. Putting books on hold is easy; I really appreciate that. But adding books to a wishlist is unintuitive and complicated. (I see there is now a little bookmark symbol at the top of the screen for adding books to a wishlist, but it freezes the app and requires closing & reopening the app.) The search options are also shaved down; you can’t search for titles in a specific language, for example. And to top it all off, there is no way within the app to contact the developer to report bugs or request improvements.

### 1/5 — Boots you off

*2025-04-29*

The app keeps you logged in sometimes, or randomly boots you off. Much easier with saved ID and password to go to the library website itself. Time for a major update.

### 1/5 — Constant log in issues

*2025-02-05*

Super glitchy

### 5/5 — App

*2024-10-06*

Wanted something like this for a while

### 3/5 — Update has some improvements

*2024-10-02*

I like that holds in transit and ready for pickup are now at the top of the list. 
Still doesn’t stay logged in very often and logging in requires more steps.

### 4/5 — Why 17+?

*2024-09-22*

I like this app well enough. I prefer to use a PC to navigate my library catalog, but this works fine. However, when my 13 year old took over responsibility for their own library account, I had them get the app. I had to change the content and privacy restrictions on their phone from 12+ to 17+ and the LinkCat app goes away if I switch it back down. Why is this app 17+?! 🙄

### 1/5 — Unusable

*2023-06-27*

It worked for a while and I could at least see my holds and checked out items.  Now I can’t do anything.  Either there is an error message or literally nothing happens at all when I click on the main page sections.

### 1/5 — Doesn’t work 99% of the time

*2023-03-12*

This is the worst app I’ve ever used. If it’s not one issue, it’s a dozen others. It literally doesn’t work - EVER.

### 1/5 — Can’t place items on hold

*2023-01-16*

Update does not work. Cannot use Place Hold button. Useless.

## Frequently asked questions about LINKcat Mobile

### What can I do with LINKcat Mobile?

LINKcat Mobile allows you to search the library catalog, place holds on items you want to borrow, access your library account, and renew items you currently have checked out. It provides comprehensive library management from your mobile device.

### Is LINKcat Mobile free to use?

Yes, the LINKcat Mobile application is free to download and use. There are no in-app purchases or advertisements within the app.

### What devices is LINKcat Mobile compatible with?

The app is designed for use on Apple devices, including iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch. It offers a convenient way to interact with your library services on these platforms.

### How do I place a hold on a book using the app?

You can search the library catalog within the app for the item you are interested in. Once you find it, there will be an option to place a hold directly through the app, adding it to your request queue.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 2026.32 — 2026-08-07

Minor fixes and enhancements, including:

Improved refresh indicator handling
Improved event calendar date handling

### 2026.22 — 2026-06-12

Minor fixes and enhancements, including:

Improvements in the renewal process
Accessibility enhancements with grouped tabs
Added a password view toggle on the Linked Accounts login

### 2026.18 — 2026-05-07

Minor fixes and enhancements including:

Added support for OpenDyslexic font
Improved experience when selecting a pickup location for the first time

### 2026.10 — 2026-03-19

Minor fixes and enhancements including:

Improved experience on iOS 26
Resolved an issue where the app would pause background audio when opened for the first time

### 2025.44 — 2025-11-21

Minor fixes and enhancements including:

Improved experience on iOS 26
Resolved an issue where the app would have a blank screen when returning from a link

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-23.*